Combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus



March 7, 1961 M- G- THOMSON COMBINATION DISPENSER AND CLEANER APPARATUSFiled Feb. 24, 1959 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. MARY G. THOMSON BYW 5 WadW 147' TOMM- COMBINATION DISPENSERAND CLEANER APPARATUS Mary G. Thomson, 212 San Vicente Blvd, SantaMonica, Calif.

Filed Feb. 24, 1959, s61. No. 795,035 Claims. c1. 15-601 This inventiongenerally relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly concernsan improved combined dispenser and cleaner device in which the dispenserand cleaner components co-function in operation and in which thecomponents structurally stabilize each other.

Various types of combined dispensers and cleaners are available on themarket and have been developed in the past for the purpose of moreexpeditiously washing cars, cleaning dishes, and the like. Most suchcombination structures are relatively expensive, and are usually ofsomewhat complex mechanical structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, manuallyoperated combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which may beeconomically manufactured with a minimum number of parts.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide acombination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which is rugged andrelatively maintenance free, but in which the wearing parts may bereadily replaced, if required, without the need of special tools orskilled workmanship.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide acombination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which is particularlyadapted for dish washing operations in which frictional and scrubbingfunctions are primarily desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention aregenerally achieved by providing the combination of a horseshoe shapedbrush terminating in a protrudingwire member at each of its endportions. Clamp means are provided which include holding means adaptedtoreceive each or" the wire members.

As another part of the combination, a dispensing bottle or container isincluded which defines a dispensing end structure or portion that isshaped for co-operating engagement with the clamp means. Locking meansare further provided to connect the clamp-means to the dispensing endstructure and to perform the additional function of retaining each ofthe wire members in stable relationship to the clamp means.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by referenceto the drawings, showing merelyone illustrative embodiment, and inwhich: v

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the overall combined dispenser andcleaner apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded enlarged view of the clamp means and dispensingend structure of the combined dispenser and cleaner apparatus of Figure1, and including one embodiment of a cap co-functioning therewith;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the cap shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a modification to the bottom portion of the clamp meansshown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a conventionaldispenser container or bottle preferably formed of plastic material suchas polyethylene plastic. Fastened over the upper dispensing end of thebottle is a clamp means generally designated by the Patented Mar. 7,1951 numeral 11 to which is secured the cleaning apparatus in the formof a horseshoe shaped brush 12.

The brush 12 has stems or protruding wire members 13 and 14 defining thefree ends thereof and adapted to be received in the clamp means 11 in amanner to be hereafter described.

Referring to the view of Figure 2, there is shown in enlarged form theupper end of the bottle 10 recessed to define an upper base portion 15.integrally extending upwardly from the upper base portion 15 is thedispensing end structure 16 of the bottle 10 forming an important partof the present invention.

The dispensing end structure 16 is adapted to receive the clamp means 11and to additionally function as a means of ejecting the cleaning ordispensing fluid con-' tained in the bottle 10. For the latter purpose,the dispensing end structure 16 is provided with a threaded neck 17extending upwardly therefrom and formed coaxially therein to communicatewith the bottle 10.

The dispensing end structure 16 includes opposing radially projectingflanges 18 and 19. Each of the flanges 18 and 12 is of varying widththroughout its height and preferably slopes downwardly and outwardly tothe point where it merges with the upper base portion 15, as clearlyshown in the view of Figure 2.

The dispensing end structure additionally includes retaining columnarstructures 20 and 21. v

The flanges 18 and 19 are provided with screw receiving apertures 22 fora purpose that shall hereafter be described.

The dispensing end structure 16 is adapted to receive the clamp means 11which is shown above the dispensing end structure in the view of Figure2. Clamp means 11 comprises generally two U-shaped channel members 24and 25 in opposing relationship which are adaptedto be received overcolumnar members 20 and 21, respectively. The U-shaped member 24 has awing portion 26 integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly fromthe leg portion thereof. Similarly, the U-shaped member 25 has a wingportion 27. The wing portions 26 and 27 are adapted to be mounted oneither side of the flange 19 and coupled thereto as by the screws 23previously described.

Similar wing portions 28 and 29 extend outwardly from the other side ofthe U-shaped members 24 and 25, and are adapted to be received on eitherside of the flange 18.

The terminal edges of the wing portions 26, 27, 28, and 29 define,respectively, arcuately shaped holding surfaces 30, 31, 32, and 33.

Each pairof arcuate holding surfaces, for example, 3031, define achannel into which one of the wire members, for example, 14 is receivedand held with a clamping force.

It will be noted that the wing portions 26, 27, 28, and '29 slopedownwardly and outwardly relative to the threaded neck 17 of thedispensing end structure 16. Also, the wingportions 26, 27, 28, and 29are dimensioned such that the arcuate holding surfaces thereof areimmediately exterior of the sloping edge of the respective flanges 18and 19, whereby the wire members 13 and 14 are adapted to be forcedagainst the sloping edge of the respective flanges 18 and 19 while heldby the adjacent arcuate surfaces 32-33 and 3031, respectively. It willbe appreciated that in order that the wire members 13 and 14 fit withinthe arcuate channels that they be forced apart to conform to the slopeof the outer edges of the flanges 18 and 19.

In consequence, in addition to the clamping force exerted by the arcuatesurfaces 30-31 and 3233, a frictional force will exist between the wiremember 13 and the edge of the flange 18 and similarly between thedescription.

35 and 36 each havingan increased diameter relative to,

the nominal diameter of the'cap 37. Thus, with such a construction, thebottom faces of the ridges 35 and 36 are designed to overlie the topedges of the wing portions 26 through 29 of the clamp means 11. As aconsequence, the cap 34 will firmly exert a downward pressure on theclamp means 11 in addition to the-coupling action of the screws 23maintaining the clamp means secure to the dispensing end structure 16 ofthe bottle 19. As shown in Figure 3, the cap 34 is-provided with athreaded bore 38 designed to be received on the threaded neck l7 of thedispensing end'structure16. 'Orifices39 communicate from the exterior ofthe cap to the bore 38 such that the dispensing fluid in the bottle litmay be forcefully ejected therethrough upon squeezing of the bottle 10manually in a conventional manner.

In some instances, in order to protect the upper base portion of thebottle 10, it may be desirable to round ofi the bottom edges of the wingportions 26, 27, 28, and 29 such that these edges will not pierce intothe base portion 15 or inadvertently into the flanges as such. Such amodification is illustrated in Figure 4. Thus, in Figure 4, 40represents a partial view of a flange similar to the flanges 26 through29, which is provided with screw receiving apertures 41 similar toapertures 22. The only difference between flange 4t} and flanges 26 and29 is the fact that the lower edge thereof is bent into a plane of theupper base portion 15, as at 42, such that the wing portion 40 has notendency to cut or tear the base portion 15.

The operation of the improved combination dispensing and cleaningapparatus of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled inthe art from the foregoing It is apparent that filling of the bottlewith the dispensing fluid is merely accomplished by unthreading the cap34 and pouring fluid or tunneling fluid into the threaded neck opening17. Thereafter, the cap- 34 is screwed into position such that one ofthe peripheral "ridged portions 35 or 36 comes into engaging contactwith the opposing wing pairs 28- 29 and 3031.

Thereafter, it is merely necessary as heretofore mentioned, for theoperator to squeeze the'bottle to in turn force fluid from the bottlethrough the threaded neck 17, the cap 34, and thereafter outwardlythrough the orifices 39 Of course, in order to changebrushes or toposition the brush 12 in the clamp'means 11, it is necessary to graspthe wire members 13 and 14 and bend them outwardly such that they may bedirected into the arcuate channels formed by the arcuate surfaces 3233and 30-31. The screws 23 are thereafter threaded into the apertures 22to exert a clamping force between the wing members 26*27 and 28-29holding the respective Wire members 13 and 14 therein and in contactwith the respective edges of the flanges 18 and 19.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be madeto the improved'cornbination dispensing and cleaning apparatus of thepresent invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a horseshoe shaped brush terminating in a protrudingwire at each of its endportions; clamp means comprising two opposingU-shaped mem bers, each of said members having its free ends extendingoutwardly and normally from the leg portions thereof to integrallydefine two pairs of opposing wing members; a dispensing bottle defininga dispensing end structure, said end structure having columnarstructures to mate in interposed relationship with said opposingU-shaped mem bers; said end structure also having two opposing radiallyprojecting flanges adapted to fit, respectively, between each said pairof Wing members; and, said clamp means further including holding meansco-operatively defined by each of said pair of wing members,respectively, to receive each said wire member; and, locking meanscofunctioning to connect said clamp means to said end structure and totighten said holding means about each said wire member.

2. The combination, according to claim 1, in which said locking meanscomprises at least one screw extending laterally through said dispensingend structure and said clamp means.

3. The combination, according to claim 1, in which each of said holdingmeans is positioned adjacent and outWardlyof-the outer edge of each saidprojecting flange to cooperate therewith to receive and retain each saidwire member.

4. In combination, a horseshoe shaped brush terminatingin a protrudingwire member at each of its end portions; clamp means'of given length; adispensing bottle defining a dispensing end structure also of said givenlength, said end structure and said clamp means being shaped forcooperating aligned engagement, said clamp means further includingholding means positioned laterally outwardly of said end structure andadapted to receive each said wire member; a threaded neck extendingcoaxially upwardly from said dispensing end structure; a cap adapted tobe threadingly received on said neck, said cap defining at least oneorifice communicating through the closed end thereof, and said capincluding a ridged portion of increased radius adapted to abut againstsaid clamp means and exert a downward force thereon.

5. The combination, according to claim 4, in which said threaded neck issubstantially smaller in cross-sectional area than said dispensing endstructure such that said dispensing end structure reinforces andprotects said threaded neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,151,813 Neufeld Aug. 31, 1915 1,159,582 Glover Nov. 9, 1915 1,646,176Twitchell Oct. 18, 1927 2,587,382 Pyne Feb. 26, 1952 2,726,417 RowserDec. 13, 1955

